DHL Supply Chain has been recognised for its leadership in workplace gender equality by being named in The Times Top 50 Employers for Women 2017.

The Times Top 50 Employers for Women is published in partnership with Business in the Community, the Prince’s Responsible Business Network, as part of the charity’s Responsible Business Week.

The alphabetical and unranked list acknowledges UK employers that are making gender equality a key part of their business strategy, with consistent commitment to creating inclusive workplace cultures and progressing women in the workplace, across the entire organisation and at all levels.

The list involves a comprehensive submission process managed by the gender equality campaign of Business in the Community.

DHL Supply Chain’s diversity action plan is deployed at all levels of the organisation, ensuring support and initiatives are in place to embed both the value of a diverse workforce and the tools needed to support one.

It includes a ‘diversity module’ which is undertaken by all employees, setting out the benefits of a diverse organisation, and the ‘Warehouse to Wheels’ scheme.

With women much better represented in warehouse roles, DHL Supply Chain hopes the scheme will encourage more female drivers by developing warehouse employees into HGV drivers. DHL Supply Chain is also working towards the target of ensuring 100% of job roles can be adapted for flexible working.

As a result of continued efforts to be an outstanding place of work for women, DHL Supply Chain has seen  positive achievements towards an equal workforce. Currently 24% of all executive new hires/promotions are women, just 1% away from its 25% target for 2020.

Melanie Kreis, corporate board member for HR at Deutsche Post DHL, said: “As a global company of half a million people, the diversity of our employees is a genuine strength, which is why workplace equality is so important to us. I’m delighted to see our Supply Chain business leading the way in our industry and congratulate the UKI team on their success.”

Nikki Craig, senior vice-president HR, DHL Supply Chain UKI, added: “For too long the logistics industry has had a reputation as male-dominated and not supportive of women. We are proud to be reversing the trend and creating a team that better mirrors the diversity of our customers, suppliers and investors.”